Holder for christmas-trees



(No Model.)

M. MERK. HOLDER EUR CHRISTMAS TREES. Re. No. 458,756. Patented Sept. l,1891.

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rUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN MERK, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

HOLDER FOR CHRISTMAS-TREES, 86C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,756, datedSeptember r1, 1891.

Application led November 7, 1890. Serial No. 370,630. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that LMAETIN MERK, a citizen of the United States, residingat Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Holders for Christmas- Trees,ttc., of which the following is a speciiication, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to that class of Christmas-tree holders in whichthe tree is clamped between pivoted jaws; andthe invention consists inthe peculiar construction, arrangement, and combinations of partshereinafter more particularly described, and then definitely claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a holderconstructed according to my improvement, and Fig. 2 is a centraivertical sectional view of the lower half of the same.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by iigures, 1 represents abase having legs 2 and feet 3, thelatter being perforated at 4 toreceive screws ornails by which it may be fastened to the floor. Settingin a hole 5 in this base is a standard 6, having ears 7, in each ofwhich is pivoted a lever S, each carrying at its upper end a pivoted jaw9, which embraces the Christmas-tree, iiagstai, or other similararticle. (Shown in dotted lines.) The lower ends of these levers enteran opening 10, cast in the lower part of the standard 6,as shown in Fig.2, into which opening also enters, through a threaded hole in the bottomof the standard, a pointed thumb-screw 11, the point of which passesbetween the lower ends of the levers7 so as to force them apart, which,of course, causes the upper ends of the levers to approach each other,and thus makes the jaws press npon the tree or flag-staff, as the casemay be. The upper end of the standard has a central hole 12, which formsa seat for the bottom of the tree or flag-staff, and its lower end has ashoulder13,which prevents it passing through the base and leaves areduced portion, the bottom part of which is threaded to receive a-nut14, by which the standard and base are iirmly secured together, yet insuch a manner as to allow of the standard rotatingin the base. From thisit will be seen that by turning the screw backward the jaws 9 will open,when a tree, tlagstaff, or similar article may be set between the jawsand in the hole 12, and by turning the screw in the opposite directionits point enters between the lower ends of the levers 8, and thus forcesthe jaws 9 in contact with the article to be held, and the latter isthus firmly secured in its place.

This holder, besides being useful for holding flagstats and similararticles, will be found extremely convenient as a Christmastree holder,as the tree can be rotated in the base, and thus all sides of the treecan be exhibited to the best advantage.

What I claim as new is- 1. The combination, with a suitable base, of ahollow vertical standard 6, constructed to revolve therein and carryingpivoted clamping-levers 8, and a screw 11,0perating on the lower ends ofthe levers, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a suitable support, as the base 1,of a standard6, supported in said base, having the levers 8 pivoted therein, providedwith pivoted jaws Sl on their upper ends, and a taper-pointed screw 11,working between the lower ends oi. said levers, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination of a base 1, having legs 2 and feet 3, with thestandard G,having ears 7, the levers S,pivoted in said ears 7, the jaws9, pivoted to the upper ends of said levers, the thumb-screw 11,engaging the lower ends of the same, and the nut 14, fit-ting thethreaded. end of the standard 6, all substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnessesthis 5th day of November, 1890. v

MARTIN MERK.

Witnesses:

EDGAR J. NATHAN, JAMES T. MALONE.

